Parasite-host relationships of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) and black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in southeastern Spain
Abstract Background Documentation on water mites in Spain is scarce, as is information on the parasite-host relationship between certain water mite species and representatives of the dipteran family Simuliidae. The discomfort caused to humans and animals by black flies seems to be increasing in rece...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05610-2 |
| _version_ | 1798005057437827072 |
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| author | David López-Peña Reinhard Gerecke Eduardo Moisés García-Roger Peter Martin Ricardo Jiménez-Peydró |
| author_facet | David López-Peña Reinhard Gerecke Eduardo Moisés García-Roger Peter Martin Ricardo Jiménez-Peydró |
| author_sort | David López-Peña |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Documentation on water mites in Spain is scarce, as is information on the parasite-host relationship between certain water mite species and representatives of the dipteran family Simuliidae. The discomfort caused to humans and animals by black flies seems to be increasing in recent years. In this context, an investigation of parasitic water mites is of great importance, not only from the point of view of biodiversity, but also in terms of their potential to control black fly populations. Methods Rivers across a wide region of eastern Spain were sampled to determine the specific richness of simuliid dipterans and to investigate their possible parasites, such as water mites, mermithid nematodes and microsporidia (fungal microbes). Data on environmental variables, abundance, prevalence and intensity of parasitism on the collected specimens were analyzed. Results In 10 streams, 15,396 simuliid pupae were collected and checked for the presence of water mite larvae; 426 pupae in seven streams were found to be associated with water mite larvae. Of the 21 simuliid species identified based on morphological characters, eight were found to be associated with water mite larvae. Water mite infection was not equally distributed among black fly species. Also, the prevalence of parasitism was low and differed among simuliid species, ranging from one to 13 water mites per black fly pupa. Variation at the intra- and interspecific levels was detected in terms of the number of water mites inside the black fly cocoons. Free-living deutonymphal and adult water mites representing 15 different species of six genera and five families were morphologically identified. The taxonomic identity of the parasitic mite larvae is unclear at present. Morphologically, they fit descriptions of larval Sperchon (Hispidosperchon) algeriensis Lundblad, 1942, but the possibility cannot be excluded that they represent Sperchon algeriensis, the most abundant species at the adult stage in this study and unknown at the larval stage, or even another species of the genus. A molecular analysis produced for the first time cytochrome oxidase I gene sequences for S. algeriensis. Conclusions Our results contribute to current knowledge on Spanish Hydrachnidia and their relationships with simuliids as hosts. However, further research is needed to evaluate the diversity, distribution, bioecology and prevalence of this parasitism. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:33:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-47f24ec3f00c43bf95bd49f1700d5ecf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:33:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
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| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-47f24ec3f00c43bf95bd49f1700d5ecf2022-12-22T04:23:41ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052022-12-0115111910.1186/s13071-022-05610-2Parasite-host relationships of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) and black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in southeastern SpainDavid López-Peña0Reinhard Gerecke1Eduardo Moisés García-Roger2Peter Martin3Ricardo Jiménez-Peydró4Entomology and Pest Control Laboratory, Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat I Biologia Evolutiva (ICBiBE), Universitat de València (Estudi General)Department of Evolution and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of TübingenEvolutionary Ecology Laboratory, Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat I Biologia Evolutiva (ICBiBE), Universitat de València (Estudi General)Department of Landscape Ecology, Institute for Natural Resource Conservation, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Zu KielEntomology and Pest Control Laboratory, Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat I Biologia Evolutiva (ICBiBE), Universitat de València (Estudi General)Abstract Background Documentation on water mites in Spain is scarce, as is information on the parasite-host relationship between certain water mite species and representatives of the dipteran family Simuliidae. The discomfort caused to humans and animals by black flies seems to be increasing in recent years. In this context, an investigation of parasitic water mites is of great importance, not only from the point of view of biodiversity, but also in terms of their potential to control black fly populations. Methods Rivers across a wide region of eastern Spain were sampled to determine the specific richness of simuliid dipterans and to investigate their possible parasites, such as water mites, mermithid nematodes and microsporidia (fungal microbes). Data on environmental variables, abundance, prevalence and intensity of parasitism on the collected specimens were analyzed. Results In 10 streams, 15,396 simuliid pupae were collected and checked for the presence of water mite larvae; 426 pupae in seven streams were found to be associated with water mite larvae. Of the 21 simuliid species identified based on morphological characters, eight were found to be associated with water mite larvae. Water mite infection was not equally distributed among black fly species. Also, the prevalence of parasitism was low and differed among simuliid species, ranging from one to 13 water mites per black fly pupa. Variation at the intra- and interspecific levels was detected in terms of the number of water mites inside the black fly cocoons. Free-living deutonymphal and adult water mites representing 15 different species of six genera and five families were morphologically identified. The taxonomic identity of the parasitic mite larvae is unclear at present. Morphologically, they fit descriptions of larval Sperchon (Hispidosperchon) algeriensis Lundblad, 1942, but the possibility cannot be excluded that they represent Sperchon algeriensis, the most abundant species at the adult stage in this study and unknown at the larval stage, or even another species of the genus. A molecular analysis produced for the first time cytochrome oxidase I gene sequences for S. algeriensis. Conclusions Our results contribute to current knowledge on Spanish Hydrachnidia and their relationships with simuliids as hosts. However, further research is needed to evaluate the diversity, distribution, bioecology and prevalence of this parasitism. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05610-2Black fliesWater mitesPhysico-chemical variablesAbundance of pupaePrevalence and intensity of parasitismParasitic load |
| spellingShingle | David López-Peña Reinhard Gerecke Eduardo Moisés García-Roger Peter Martin Ricardo Jiménez-Peydró Parasite-host relationships of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) and black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in southeastern Spain Parasites & Vectors Black flies Water mites Physico-chemical variables Abundance of pupae Prevalence and intensity of parasitism Parasitic load |
| title | Parasite-host relationships of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) and black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in southeastern Spain |
| title_full | Parasite-host relationships of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) and black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in southeastern Spain |
| title_fullStr | Parasite-host relationships of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) and black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in southeastern Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parasite-host relationships of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) and black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in southeastern Spain |
| title_short | Parasite-host relationships of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) and black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in southeastern Spain |
| title_sort | parasite host relationships of water mites acari hydrachnidia and black flies diptera simuliidae in southeastern spain |
| topic | Black flies Water mites Physico-chemical variables Abundance of pupae Prevalence and intensity of parasitism Parasitic load |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05610-2 |
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